Maintenance Mechanic
What you'd do
This Maintenance Mechanic position is located in the Facilities Management department at the VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain Campus.
Major duties
Performs routine work orders. Performs a variety of preventive maintenance tasks such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, roofing and other related trades required in maintenance and repair of buildings, structures, fixtures, and related property. Makes visual and operational inspections of a variety of wood, brick, metal and masonry buildings to detect deficiencies and determine repair needs. Determines materials needed, and makes repairs or replaces items found defective. Performs inspections to include checking the condition of foundations, walls, flooring, roofs, doors, windows, plumbing, electrical systems, building approaches and obvious safety and fire hazards. Performs carpentry work involving maintenance and repair of a variety of wood products. Selects lumber, materials, supplies and tools. Measures and cuts materials to required lengths and dimensions. Repairs or replaces flooring, sheet rock, plywood, siding, sheathing, roofing doors, jambs and window frames, interior and exterior trim. Fabricates and installs frames or casings for windows and doors. Installs doors and door hardware, repairs roofs by shingling or installing roll roofing. Repairs floors by replacing flooring. Replaces floor tile and vinyl sheet flooring. Uses a variety of hand and power tools to accomplish work. Performs plumbing work involving maintenance and repair of a wide variety of piping, plumbing fixtures (lavatories, commodes, sink, disposals, bath tubs and shower fixtures). Measures, cuts and threads piping to required lengths using correct size of pipe and threading the correct number of threads. Installs piping by using threaded couplings, joints, fittings and by soldering. Uses a variety of hand and power tools to accomplish such task as cutting and threading pipe, unstopping drains, installing fixtures and piping and repairing or replacing all of the above. Makes electrical repairs by removing and replacing defective parts such as incandescent and fluorescent fixtures, receptacles, switches, pull chains, covers, ballasts, starters, sockets, door ball buttons, transformers, and other items related to the installed system. Changes bulbs in hard to reach locations. Performs snow/ice control. Operates equipment with specially designed attachments (e.g., snow plow, mounted sand spreaders, rotary snow blowers) used separately or simultaneously. May also operate conventional snow removal or clearing equipment as needed. Ensures accomplished repairs are finished by sanding and finishing. Performs shop mathematics in order to compute measurements, angles, arcs, etc. Cuts various materials to required size or shape, match colors, patterns and materials, and install various materials to obtain proper fit, strength and appearance. Reads and interprets drawings and sketches. Repairs or replaces flush valves, vacuum breakers, faucets, and traps. Clears clogged sink, lavatory, tub and shower drains, unstops sanitary sewer drains and lines. Work Schedule: To be determined by management Position Description Title/PD#: Maintenance Mechanic/PD523-04184-A Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA. Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement). Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Notification: This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by a special rate range for federal wage system skilled positions. This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 09/30/2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 07/10/2026, with subsequent cut-off dates bi-weekly. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements: Ability to Do the Work of the Position without More Than Normal Supervision Ability to Interpret Instructions, Specifications, etc. (Includes Blueprint Reading) Ability to Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Knowledge of Equipment Assembly, Installation, and Repair, etc. Knowledge of Materials Technical Practices (Theoretical, Precise, Artistic) Use of Measuring Instruments Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.